Welcome Home Elder

 Dear Caleb,

A few weeks ago, we went to a mission homecoming.

Not yours.

Elder Justensen was the missionary who stood at the head of the hospital bed, and placed his hands on your head as you were leaving this life. We sat in the congregation and listened to him speak and it was powerful. I was overcome with emotions I didn't quite know what to do with.

I was so grateful to see him.

And I was heartbroken.

Because this was the time you were supposed to come home too.

As he spoke about his mission experiences, his testimony, and the things he had learned, I found myself wondering what your homecoming talk would have sounded like. Would you have told funny stories? Would you have talked about the people you loved? Would you have shared spiritual experiences that changed you? Would you have cried? I would have. As I listened to him, I felt close to you. 

There were 3 other elders with you in that hospital room.  We were able to meet 2 of them when we went to visit parts of the mission in February.  That was special, too. We met Elder Walker on Sunday, and he was absolutely amazing. He took around the rez to us see some great families.  

Then Monday morning we met the whole district, including Elder Brinkerhoff, who was still in the area. He was so kind, and it brought us so much peace to hear him tell stories. We had some fun conversations with so many of these valiant missionaries.

 Elder Justensen had moved.

It was good to finally see the third young man who was called to stand by your side during your final earthly moments.  It was good to hear his testimony and to feel that same Spirit that carried all of us through those impossible days in January.

It was good to see his beautiful mother again, and his entire family - many of whom are excited to help with with our fundraiser project.  We are so grateful for their family for helping provide a very healing moment for us.

I found myself feeling two things at once: profound gratitude and profound grief. They sat side by side in my heart, neither canceling out the other. I'm learning again and again that grief is strange that way. I have learned that sometimes the most sacred experiences are also the most painful. 

I wish we could have heard your homecoming talk, Caleb.

I wish we could have sat in a crowded chapel and laughed at your stories and cried at your testimony and hugged you afterward while everyone told us how much you'd grown.

But since we can't, I am grateful for the moments when heaven allows us to glimpse what might have been. Even when those glimpses hurt. 

Especially when they hurt.

Because the pain reminds me of the depth of our love. And our love for you has never diminished. Not for one moment. And now we know a new kind of love.

In our grief we have had the most incredible outpouring of love from our family, our friends, the mission, and our broader community. What a blessing it is to be a part of the miracle of love. 

We were honored to welcome Elder Justensen home.

Love,
Mom

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 12, 2026 at 7:48 AM

    Beautifully shared; you and your family are being blessed with healing; the Lord’s healing!

    ReplyDelete

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